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PROGRAM FACILITATOR GUIDES

Introduction

Create your own event using NASA’s Universe of Learning resources

Whether you have extensive experience organizing STEM events — or none at all — these resources will provide you with activity ideas, science background information, and assistance planning and managing logistics for a successful event.

Callout: Quote

"The Facilitator Guide was incredible. There was so much in it that we’re probably going to come up with another program in a couple of years… We also learned so much and got so many resources from NASA’s Universe of Learning." 

– Marie Brenna, Lawrence County Public Library

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STEAM Program Guides

Detailed guides, background information, slide decks, and activity ideas to engage your audiences with NASA astrophysics.

  • Stars

    There are more stars in space than grains of sand on all of Earth’s beaches! In this theme, event participants learn about the stages in the life cycle of a star, and how the fate of a star depends on its mass.

    Rectangular graphic illustrating the Stars program theme. The right four-fifths of the graphic consists of an infrared image of the Pillars of Creation from the Webb Space Telescope. The pillars are a ghostly blue-gray color with craggy finger-like tips. Running vertically along the left side of the image is a wide pink bar. In the lower half of the bar is a line drawing of a simple hand-held telescope on a tripod. The telescope points toward a circular field of view showing stylized stars with four-pointed diffraction patterns.

  • Data and Imaging Processing

    Telescope images do not come from space fully assembled: They arrive as data encoded in 1s and 0s that need to be processed! In this theme, event participants will learn how we communicate with space telescopes and how we turn astronomical data into images.

    Rectangular graphic illustrating the Data and Image Processing program theme. The right four-fifths of the graphic shows a space telescope orbiting Earth, collecting data from a supernova remnant, and transmitting the data to a large satellite dish. Running vertically along the left side of the image is a wide purple bar. In the lower half of the bar is a line drawing of a simple hand-held telescope on a tripod. The telescope points toward a circular field of view showing rows of ones and zeros.

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum

    Human eyes can perceive only a small fraction of the wide range of light that exists! In this theme, event participants will learn about the types of light that make up the electromagnetic spectrum and how astronomers use telescopes to detect different types of light to learn more about space objects.

    Rectangular graphic illustrating the Electromagnetic Spectrum program theme. The right four-fifths of the graphic is a colorful multiwavelength space telescope image of a planetary nebula. The nebula looks like a human eyeball, with a hot pink pupil surrounded by blue and orange iris-like rings. Running vertically along the left side of the image is a wide green bar. In the lower half of the bar is a line drawing of a simple hand-held telescope on a tripod. The telescope points toward a circular field of view showing an expanding wave pattern.

  • Finding Exoplanets

    Exoplanets — planets beyond our solar system — are abundant but difficult to find and spot directly. In this theme, event participants will learn about two of the creative ways astronomers use to detect and “see” these objects.

    Rectangular graphic illustrating the Exoplanets program theme. The right four-fifths of the graphic shows an illustration of three exoplanets orbiting a bright star. Running vertically along the left side of the image is a wide blue bar. In the lower half of the bar is a line drawing of a simple hand-held telescope on a tripod. The telescope points toward a circular field of view showing stars and planets.

Cosmic Canvas Program Guides

Program guides with step-by-step activities, downloadable materials, and background information to engage participants in astronomy through artmaking.

  • Cosmic Canvas: Stellar Evolution

    Stars are born, live incredible lives, and eventually die — sometimes in dramatic ways! This journey, known as stellar evolution, helps us understand how stars shape the universe and even create the elements and molecules that make up planets and people. Through these activities, participants will learn about the lives of stars by interpreting and creating models, building both their science and artistic skills along the way!

    Artist's concept of the binary star system HM Sge on the black background of space sprinkled with various sizes of red and white points of light. At the top of the image, a blazing hot white disk surrounds a white dwarf star that is pulling a stream of material from its red giant companion, the glowing mottled ball at bottom right.

  • Cosmic Canvas: Exoplanets

    Planets beyond our solar system are called exoplanets — and scientists have discovered thousands! Some are hot and stormy, others icy and rocky, and some might even have the right conditions for life. Through these activities, participants will learn how artists play an important role in developing models, like scientific illustrations, of these distant worlds while practicing skills used in both art and science.

    Illustration depicting the seven planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system against a black background. The image does not show the planets' orbits to scale as they are placed in a diagonal manner from top left to bottom right. The exoplanets’ surfaces are illuminated, as if an offscreen light source is shining on the face-on portion of each exoplanet. The exoplanets vary in size, and each is unique in color and detail. From left to right: a large blue sphere, a light brown and gray sphere, a smaller dark blue sphere with a white marbled surface, a sphere with a brown, white, and blue surface, a slightly larger sphere with gray vein-like features, a similarly sized sphere with a light brown surface, and a small brown sphere.

What People are Saying About our Guides

"The Programming Guide is just amazing … that resource alone is really great for planning. There’s so many opportunities for programs… and there’s room for your own creativity as well"

– Cassandra Taylor, Technology Engagement Center, Library Association

Event Resources

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Tips to Engage Your Audience

Our program facilitator guide includes engagement and promotional strategies to help make your event a success.

DOWNLOAD THE FACILITATOR TIPS

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Event Planning & Checklist

This is a good starting point to help you structure your event and think about logistics to ensure that it is smooth and successful.

DOWNLOAD THE CHECKLIST

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Participant Survey

Get immediate feedback from your audience using this survey developed by NASA’s Universe of Learning.

DOWNLOAD THE SURVEY

Additional Activities

Additional NASA’s Universe of Learning activities to engage your audiences.
 

Recent Activities

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  1. 3D Printing the X-ray Universe

    3D Object | Activities
    Despite our limited abilities to travel to distant objects in outer space, astronomers, computer scientists, and others are developing techniques that nudge astronomy visualization forward from two-dimensional...
    Illustration of hand on left placing a star in hand on right

  2. After School Programming: Intro to Astronomy: Pinhead Institute

    Activities | Program Model | Toolkit
    This program was created to be paired with preexisting programming within informal learning environments. At the Pinhead institute, an introduction to astronomy was incorporated into a variety of after-school...
    Students participate in a hands-on activity identifying galaxy types

  3. Artful Exoplanets: Creating Imaginary Worlds: Springfield Museum of Art

    Activities | Exhibits | Program Model | Toolkit
    Springfield Museum of Art partnered with The Dome: Center for Innovation and Clark County Juvenile Detention Center to provide two one-week sessions of summer programming. Artful Exoplanets: Creating Imaginary...
    Display of Artwork on the wall

  4. Beyond the Universe: South Dakota Discovery Center

    Activities | Program Model | Toolkit
    Beyond the Universe implemented the MicroObservatory into middle school curriculum to engage students in local communities. The project used a combination of NASA’s Universe of Learning activities...
    Astronomical Exhibit Display in a Children's Museum

  5. Cosmic Canvas: Exoplanets Program Guide & Resources

    Activities | Resource Guide
    Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets—planets beyond our solar system. Some exoplanets are hot and stormy, others icy and rocky, and some look wildly different than the planets within...
    Illustration depicting the seven planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system against a black background. The image does not show the planets' orbits to scale as they are placed in a diagonal manner from top left to bottom right. The exoplanets’ surfaces are illuminated, as if an offscreen light source is shining on the face-on portion of each exoplanet. The exoplanets vary in size, and each is unique in color and detail. From left to right: a large blue sphere, a light brown and gray sphere, a smaller dark blue sphere with a white marbled surface, a sphere with a brown, white, and blue surface, a slightly larger sphere with gray vein-like features, a similarly sized sphere with a light brown surface, and a small brown sphere.
View All Related Activities